The battle for control of Ortona had been raging for three days. Going into the 23rd
of December, the defending German paratroopers of the 1st Fallschirmjaeger Division
seemed to retain the initiative no matter what actions the attacking Canadians
took. Many of the Germans were veterans of urban fighting in Russia. One group of
German paratroopers was led by veteran Feldwebel Fritz Illi. Illi kept his men moving
constantly as they contested the Canadians for control of block after block. The
men of the 2nd Canadian Brigade “Seaforth Highlanders” pressed their attack against
Illi’s men.